H.A. Larson's Blog, page 32

Coffee Talk: Health, Writing, and Life Lately

Good morning! I'm sitting here with a cup of coffee, pondering over my life as it's been this year and I have a lot to share so far. While I've been enjoying a proper cuppa of tea here and there, nothing beats a steaming cup of joe. Mine is flavored with a splash of coconut milk and some sugar, and with it, I am ready to talk.

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I'm 96.69 miles into my 100-mile goal for this month, and I still have a few days yet before the month is over. I'm more than confident that I will surpass my goal before the end of Friday - which happens to be the last of the month. As most of you know, I reached another huge milestone recently when I lost a total of 100 lbs! Since that's happened, I hit a plateau. This is normal and to be expected, but I hate it all the same. I'm holding steady right now, but I'm really hoping to move past that within the next few weeks before I start feeling those discouragement demons. I remind myself of how far I've come, however, whenever I start feeling down. 

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I've been working on Vanished , but, let me tell you, it's been a challenge. Between working on several things at once and having a life, I haven't had the time that I used to, to devote to working on my passion. I recently came to the conclusion that I didn't like the direction in which the book was headed, so I've changed it. I'm liking the direction of it now, and I'm pretty excited about it. That's a great feeling. I've been, for the first time in forever, doing some great research and coming up with great ideas. I finally feel like I'm evolving (again) as a writer and that makes me feel good, even if a bit anxious.

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Life has been a challenge this year, in many ways, as well. Besides a regular, full-time job, I had devoted myself to a couple of organizations, that between the two of them, amounted to a largely unpaid part-time position. The position not only paid next to nothing but what started out as a hopeful, exciting thing turned into a stressful look over the edge. When things move in that direction, it's time to cut your losses and move on. There's nothing wrong with knowing when it's time to walk away from something and I had reached that point. So, I resigned from one organization and will resign from the other soon. 
One thing I've realized as I've gotten older is that I will not feel responsible for something that doesn't belong to me. If I don't own it, whether it's another thing, another person, or someone else's decisions, then I am not responsible for its shortcomings. It's that simple. For this reason, then, I feel no guilt for deciding to leave and I shouldn't. I did the best that I could and that's all anyone, including myself, can expect of me. 
Over this long period of time that I had devoted to these organizations, I had lost my way. I didn't have the time to write anymore, I didn't have time for my friends or family anymore, and I didn't have time to pursue my interests. I missed my life and I'm looking forward to reclaiming it. I've always wanted to live a carefree life of adventure and be an author, something I'm going to refocus all my energy on.
Besides all that, I've been dealing with a lot of emotions surrounding The Teen moving off to college. I cried when we left him at his dorm and part of the hour-long drive home. He called later that evening and we talked for half an hour, after which I cried for a solid 20 minutes. I cried most of that Monday as well. I knew it would be hard, but I had no idea it would be THAT hard. He came home this past weekend and it's getting better. I didn't cry when he left this time, and I feel pretty confident that he's going to be just fine. I guess it's just hard to let go of your kids when they start to be adults. Pretty soon, or so I've been told, I will be happy that he's on his own and can start looking forward to having a different kind of life. I'm sure I will be, it just doesn't feel the warmest and fuzziest right now.

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Well, that's it for Coffee Talk today. Like usual, I will be back on Saturday with a new post. My newsletter will be coming out soon as well, so you better sign up for it if you haven't already! You'll find the signup link in the upper left-hand corner of this website. For some, you'll see it immediately, for others, you will need to click on the three lines. Have a great week my friends!
Always, H.A.

Vacation Snapshot: A Weekend in New Orleans

It's time to share my final post from my vacation this year. I know it's a bit late, but I had some other posts I really wanted to share first. Also, the final days of vacation weren't all I had hoped they would be, so I wasn't as eager to share it. But, now that a few months have passed, I feel better about vacation overall, so let's see the finale.
Vacation ended with a long weekend in New Orleans that I had really been looking forward to in the days leading up to it. With finances as tight as they have been over the past year and a half, getting away for a trip like this just hasn't been on my radar. This trip was for business, however, so it was funded by the organization I'm involved with which was both a good and a bad thing. On the one hand, I got a trip to New Orleans out of it, but on the other hand, I was representing the organization most of the time so didn't get much in the way of sightseeing. Thinking back on it, I realize that I did have a good time representing the organization and I did make the most out of what free time was available to me.

View from our room window at the Hyatt Regency - New Orleans.
We stayed at the Hyatt Regency and it was gorgeous. In another life, I used to work for Hyatt and because of it was able to stay in Hyatt Hotels around the globe for free. I had stayed at the impressive Hyatt Regency Minneapolis before, which was large and beautiful, but Hyatt Regency New Orleans was a stunning behemoth.* 


Our room was on about the 13th floor, and this was the view from the outside of our room looking down at the third-floor bar. To the right, you can see the escalators and the elevator.


It's hard to grasp the scale of size from photographs, but after I took a photo of the third floor, I panned up to eye level to snap this photo. The rooms are built in a circle around the center of the hotel leaving balconies as far up as the eye can see. Again, we're on the 13th floor and you can see how far up the floors continue. As a side note, there are 32 floors in this hotel.


Rooms do not start until about the 4th or 5th floor, so you ride the escalator up to the 3rd floor to catch the elevators to rooms. This is the view as you come down the escalator from the 2nd floor to the Lobby. It's gorgeous, isn't it?


We flew in on a Friday afternoon and took the city bus to the hotel. Incidentally, the city bus picks you up right outside the airport and drops off a few blocks from the hotel, all for $2.00! For those of you afraid to take public transportation, don't be. I've used it in various places - including Europe - and they're always cheap, fast, and reliable.
We didn't have to start working until Saturday morning, so we took advantage of Friday afternoon to get out and about a bit. We were hungry so set off in search of food. Of course, being the vegan foodie that I am, I had already scoped out the best vegan spots in town and discovered that Seed was only a mile from the hotel. So, we freshened up and headed out on foot (gotta get my 100 miles a month in!). We passed this interesting building on the way there. I snapped a photo because I felt like it was starting to look like New Orleans.


A view as we approached Seed . It was bright and hot that day, the temperature was a humid 96 degrees, so we were hot and thirsty by the time we arrived there.


Not only was the interior refreshingly cold, it was cool. It had a minimalist decor with local art adorning the walls and old window panes that were turned into ceiling decoration.


Whenever I get a chance to eat at a fully vegan restaurant, especially one I've never been to before, I will order a few of the appetizers. Here you can see their Artichoke Cakes drizzled with spicy Buffalo sauce. Made of artichokes, heart of palm (a common ingredient in vegan crab cakes), corn, red pepper, and gluten-free panko, these cakes were spicy and delicious!


We also ordered the tofu nuggets. Crispy, these bites of deliciousness had the perfect texture and flavor. Served with your preference of three sauces, we got the Honey-Agave and the Garlic Aioli. The third sauce is BBQ but we decided to go for ones we couldn't easily get anywhere else. I could eat these fabulous nuggets every day!


One of the reasons I picked Seed was for their authentic, veganized New Orleans food. Besides the appetizers, then, I ordered the Eggplant Poboy. Breaded in cornmeal and deep-fried, these thin, perfectly-crisp slices of eggplant were served on a chewy hoagie bun loaded with lettuce, sauteed peppers & onion, and generously slathered with Garlic Aioli. I've never been a fan of eggplant, but this Poboy was so tasty that I will probably give eggplant another try one of the days. 
If you're vegan, vegetarian, or just like damn good food, I highly suggest Seed if you ever find yourself in New Orleans.


Of course, one must go to the French Quarter when visiting New Orleans, so that's exactly what we did on Friday evening. Here we are just walking up to it, and if you look ahead a block in the distance, you can see all the neon.  


We managed to find a bar just off Bourbon Street that was normal - if you've ever been to Bourbon Street then you'll know what I'm talking about - so we holed up in there for a while.


A view down Bourbon Street gives you a glimpse of what it's like at night. Truthfully, Bourbon Street at night is smelly, crowded, bright, and highly commercialized. I wish I could have come down to the French Quarter, and off of Bourbon Street, during the day as I'm sure it would have been a completely different vibe.


A view of Le Pavillion Hotel from the side. The palm trees give it a tropical feel.

Le Pavillion Hotel
This is the front of the Le Pavillion Hotel at night. It looks much different from this perspective.
While there were so many things I wished I could have done while in New Orleans - visit a cemetery, take a haunted tour, walk around Lake Pontchartrain, or tour the Museum of Death - I did have a good time in New Orleans, overall. I went to Bourbon Street and ate a Poboy, and I spent a good amount of time hanging out with interesting people and drinking lots of good beer. Someday, I just might come back and do the things I wish I had done the first time around. Until then, I'll reminisce. 

*When I think about it, HR-Minneapolis was just as big and tall as the HR-New Orleans, as they both stand at 32 floors. I think the way the HR-New Orleans is designed just gives the impression that it's much larger than its counterpart.

Recipe of the Week: Roasted Vegetables

Ahh, vegetables. Nothing incites a watering mouth - or a sense of panic, depending on who you're talking to - like some fresh, yummy, food from the garden. Many times, we see good-looking produce in the store, or we join co-ops or CSAs where we get a nice amount of vegetables, and just can't decide on how to cook them. I'm here to the rescue with the simplest, easiest, yet most delicious remedy: roasting. Even veggies I'm not fond of will get eaten if thrown into a roasting pan.


Before the roasting: potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots.
It may seem simple but, make no mistake, it's delicious. Roasting vegetables is versatile as you can mix up the vegetables and the ways in which to season them. 


After roasting: brussel sprouts and cauliflower.
I have a tried-and-true method of roasting my veggies, but it's not set in stone. Typically, any mixture of veggies will do, just make sure you go in every 10 minutes to stir the veggies around. This ensures that the vegetables cook and brown evenly. This is an important step! 


Ready to spread out onto a sheet pan: carrots, potatoes, peppers, zucchini, and yellow squash.
And oil, while important to the roasting process, should be kept to a minimum. Too little and your veggies will burn, too much and they'll just be greasy. The last tidbit of wisdom you're going to want to follow is this: don't roast hard, longer-to-cook veggies with softer, quicker-to-cook veggies. If you do this, some vegetables are going to get overcooked while others won't. Keep like veggies together. Now, here's my general guidelines for roasting vegetables.


Roasted Vegetables

Ingredients:
1 - 2 lbs vegetables1/8 - 1/4 c oilseasonings of choice (garlic, paprkia, onion, fresh herbs, salt, pepper, curry powder, whatever strikes your fancy!)

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Cut up your vegetables into 1-2 inch pieces, according to preference. Peeling them is up to you, but I tend to leave most skins on as the roasting process makes them soft and tender for eating. Add them to a large mixing bowl.
3. Put on your seasonings and/or herbs.
4. Add the oil and stir to coat well. You want each piece to be coated. Now, as far as how much oil, use 1/8 cup per 1 pound of vegetables.
5. Add your vegetables to a large roasting pan and put in your preheated oven. 
6. Take out the vegetables every 10 minutes and stir.
7. Depending on the vegetables used, the roasting process can take anywhere from 15 - 45 minutes. When the vegetables are lightly browned and fork tender, they are ready.
8. Serve immediately and store any leftovers in the fridge.

Notes:
*Roasted vegetables make a nice side dish for any meal, but they can easily shine as the main dish. 
*Often, when the weather is cooler - especially during the Spring or Fall months - I will pair them with a side salad and some corn on the cob for a truly delicious and healthy meal.
*If you eat a plant-based diet like I do, don't forget to add the nooch! 
*For extra flavor, whisk in a little soy sauce or miso paste to your oil before coating your vegetables.

A Weekend of Stars

Image courtesy of Sky & Telescope.
Growing up, my Dad was a big fan of the night sky. On perfect Summer evenings, we'd go out and lie in the grass while he pointed out constellations and bright stars. I've been a big fan of the night sky ever since - something that most of you are already aware of from my various celestial events posts over the years. This year, I even managed to finally become an official member of the Omaha Astronomical Society (OAS), something I've wanted to do for years.
Last weekend, the night sky was ablaze with the normal planets and stars, due to nice clear skies, but was also ablaze with the Perseid Meteor shower. Because of this, a few star events were held that I took part in. One was the Constellation Walk and Viewing at my favorite spot, Neale Woods, while the other was the Night Sky Event at my second favorite spot, Hitchcock Nature Center.
We had to trek a medium-difficulty trail for a mile at Neale Woods to get to the viewing spot. This got us away from any kind of outside light source, and we were able to see the night sky pretty clearly. I had never been to that part of the park before so it was a new experience. While I took photos at both events - both with my phone as it takes better pictures - it was the ones from Hitchcock that turned out best. Now, bear in mind, again, that I used my phone and not some fancy camera.

Mars is the fourth planet from the sun and the second-smallest in our Solar System.
The event at Hitchcock would have been a better experience if the park staff had turned people away after a certain time period. The reason I say this is because it's difficult to see the night sky when there is a constant stream of headlights driving by you. The park failed in this regard, which was disappointing, but we tried to make the best of it. In this photo, you can see Mars pretty clearly - even if it just looks like a pinpoint of light.


Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second-largest in our Solar System.
Fortunately, the people that parked next to my car had a really nice telescope and had it pointed at Saturn. They asked if I wanted to view Saturn through their telescope, and I jumped on the chance. It's been a long time since I've looked through a bonafide telescope so seeing Saturn's rings with my own eyes was a very cool experience.



Vega is the fifth-brightest star in the night sky. Also known as Alpha Lyrae, it is best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere during the Summer months.



I have a really cool app on my phone that is free and a lot of fun to use. It's called SkyView and when you use it, you can point it in any area around you - even your feet - and see where things are in the night sky. This includes stars, planets, constellations, and even the International Space Station. Since the never-ending lineup of car headlights interfered with proper night sky viewing, I used the app to locate certain celestial bodies. It was invaluable for figuring out which planet was which! It overlays on your phone's camera, so a couple of the pinpoint lights you see in these photos are actual bodies in the night sky as viewed through my phone's camera.
















We were there, of course, mainly to view fragments of the Perseid Meteor shower as they passed across the sky. It was difficult to see any as they typically fly by in short, faint, bursts of light trails. Combine this with the never-ending stream of headlights and I was very disappointed. Fortunately, luck was on my side and I saw an obvious fragment. It was so large from where I was sitting, that it looked like a bright star with a long, red, fiery tail. I almost didn't comprehend what it was as it made a fairly long journey across the night sky, allowing many of us to see it well. We were fortunate as I have never seen a meteor fragment as close, large, bright, or long-lasting as that one - ever. 
In the end, I had a very enjoyable time both evenings. I got to spend time with my best friend and The Teen while getting in a short, decent hike at Neale Woods. Before the event at Hitchcock, another of my best friends and I went early and took a difficult hike through the park beforehand, before meeting up with other friends to view the meteor shower. The weekend was a special one for me, then, as I spent time with the people I care about most (and don't get to see much of); I got to hike in two of my favorite places; and I got to indulge in a favorite activity that I rarely get time for. I enjoyed every second.
Have you gotten a chance to view the night sky this Summer? 

The Dawn of a New Day

I'm sitting here with a warm cup of Earl Grey in my hands, watching the curly wisps of steam make their way into the air. Looking out my window, I can see the dawn just beginning to illuminate the sky over the rooftops of my neighbors' houses across the street. Dawn is breaking, both literally and figuratively.
Today, Summer break is over for Nature Girl. She leaves elementary school behind as she starts her first day of middle school. We recently went to the store to purchase school supplies and a couple of new outfits, and I watched her in awe and pride as her unique personality shone through in all of her decisions. For various reasons best unsaid, I've worried about her and watched over her more carefully than her brother. Maybe this is why I'm having a hard time letting go. Maybe it's because she's the younger of my two children. She's my baby, and she's growing up. She's not really a baby anymore.
Just as Nature Girl heads off into a new phase of her life, so too does The Teen. Thursday night my Dad arrives in town and Friday we will pack up our cars and drive him the hour away to college. We will get him settled and drive back home, leaving him to start walking the path of adulthood. I have tears in my eyes as I write this. As much as I am ready for this...I'm not really ready for this. He spent the night at a friend's house last night, and as I walked past his open door this morning and peered into his empty, darkened room, I thought, "So, this is what it will be like every day." I closed the door before walking away. 
It's not just my kids who are going through changes. The dust has settled on the chaos that was the first half of the year, and generally, I'm feeling calm, focused, and on top of things. As far as my day job is concerned, though, I've been feeling dissatisfied. I have outgrown the position and don't make much money, so I'm determined to find a better one and improve my lot in life. However, I like the university where I work and don't want to leave it. I have a good work environment, and the benefits are great, so I've decided to start looking at internal positions. I've applied for one that I'm really interested in, and I'm hoping that I can at least get an interview.
As I reflect on the here and now, I'm also thinking about the future. Not a decade down the road, mind you, but more like six months or so. I realize with absolute clarity that there are other things in my life that will need to change if I want to accomplish the things I've set out to do. Just as I've outgrown my position at work, so too have I outgrown certain things in my life. It's normal for this to happen. We all grow and change throughout the course of our lives. The way things are now will not always be the way things will remain. Look at the place where you grew up, and I guarantee that you can tell me about how different it is now compared to how it was then.
Life is meant to change, and we need to change with it. We will never grow or evolve if we don't. My kids are both growing and evolving, and I stand in wonder as I watch. They're not alone, as I'm growing and evolving as well. Our paths are intertwined, but they're different. Each one of us has our own emotions as we move forward but I can only speak for mine. I'm excited for what lies ahead and am optimistic about the future. If I were to be completely honest with you, I would admit that I was a little bit afraid, and that's okay.
Regardless of what happens, I am ready.
I have to be.

Vacation Snapshot: Hiking with my Dad

Trail in the Waterman Addition adjacent to the Prairie Heritage Center.
One of the things I did while on vacation in June was to go hiking a handful of times with my Dad. We're both avid hikers and we don't get to spend much time together these days, so it was a nice chance to get some exercise while spending time with one of my favorite guys. Besides our day hiking all over South Dakota, we spent a day hiking in O'Brien County and another morning walking the trail at his old job - he's retired now.


A gorgeous view of the Prairie surrounded by the hills.
Nestled in the rolling hills of Iowa, and covering numerous acres as far as the eye can see, lies the Waterman Prarie. It was acquired in bits and pieces by the O'Brien County Conservation and is now protected wildlife habitat. You can also hike in and amongst the land the comprises it. We started off our day by going to the Prairie Heritage Center, a jewel of the area and the home of the O'Brien County Conservation Board. The Waterman Prairie surrounds the Center, and you can take a trail that starts directly across the road from the Center. 



The Prairie is so named for Hannibal H. Waterman, who settled the area in 1856. As we walked through this particular area of the Prairie, we came across an old pioneer cemetery. This one is aptly named the Hannibal H. Waterman Cemetery, and was established in 1859, three years after he settled the area. Pioneer cemeteries are fewer in number than they used to be, but I've been fortunate to see a few. For fun, I recorded myself asking a few questions - to see if anything paranormal might be around - but I got no responses.


A view of the cemetery as you come upon it.


After checking out the few lone graves of the cemetery, we continued on the path. As we rounded a corner, we came upon a lovely pond. I consider ponds to be a treat for the eyes on any hiking trail.






As I've mentioned in previous posts about vacation, it was basically monsoon season in the Midwest during this time. This photo shows the Little Sioux River. It's so swollen that you can see it run up the road that leads to the bank on the other side. 


Blackeyed Susans.
One of my favorite things about the Prairie, and any prairie really, is the abundance of wildflowers. Different varieties grow at different times, making for an ever-changing feast for the eyes.





A stone marker at the trailhead across from the Center marks the Waterman Settlement.



After we left the Prairie adjacent to the Center, we drove several miles to a secluded spot in the Prairie - yes, it extends around the area for many miles. The purpose of this segment of hiking was to trek out to the lone gravesite of Old Dutch Fred. There's not a lot of information about Old Dutch Fred, or how he came about that nickname, but there is a book about him.



It was gorgeous every direction that I looked, even though it was sprinkling rain at the time, and it was calm and peaceful.






The final resting place of Old Dutch Fred. We took a few photos, admired the view, and then headed back to the car as the rain just refused to let up at this point. 



A couple of days later, Dad and I drove over to where he used to work: Cherokee Mental Health Institute. Years ago, the person in charge of the Institute decided to create a full walking path around the property. It runs up along the rolling hills of the surrounding nature and extends about three miles in total.


A stunning view of the hills from the path.


A few pear trees along the path were full of nearly ripe fruit.



One of the old - and abandoned - buildings on the property. I would love to ghost hunt here sometime, as well as the cemetery deep within, as the whole place is reputed to be haunted, but it's not allowed. My Dad, in a very fatherly way, told me that the building is too dangerous to be inside anyway. After we finished our leisurely hike, we drove out to the family gravesites to tend to them. My Dad's parents helped raise me, so I tend to think of them and my Dad as my "parents".
It was a lovely time of the year to do some hiking and I really enjoyed it. Fresh air, breathtaking vistas, and time well-spent with my Dad made hiking with him a pleasure. It's hard in life, especially when we get older and don't live close to our parents, to spend time with family. We get busy with work, our lives, and our own families that long periods of time can separate us. That separation can lead to disconnects, so spending quality time with my Dad was exactly what we both needed to reconnect. It's important to make the time, and I'm glad we chose to visit my Dad on our vacation. 
Have a great weekend! Spend it with those you love.

Healthy Life: Goal and Challenge Update

July has come and gone and with it my latest Goal and Challenge. This means it's time for an Update, so let me fill all of you in on how July went.


The Goal
As you may recall, I was pretty restless over this last Winter and was anxious for Spring to arrive. Why? Well, I'm a nature girl at heart and I was more than ready to get outside and start indulging in hiking - one of my favorite activities. Spring decided to arrive late this year, not really appearing until the end of April, so I threw myself into walking/hiking with gusto and determination. By the end of May, I had walked nearly 120 miles and when June ended, I had walked about 98 miles. This triggered me to make a monthly goal of walking/hiking 100 miles. So how did I fare in July? Well, I walked/hiked over 107 miles! Not too shabby, huh? 
My exact numbers are as follows:
May - 119.01 milesJune - 97.45 milesJuly - 107.32
All this walking and hiking has been fantastic for my physical health. Like I've reported in the past, I'm stronger and faster, and I continue to be more so with each passing month. While I wasn't able to do my hiking goal of Black Elk Peak this year, I'm definitely going to plan it for next year. 


The Challenge
I also decided in July to take on a 30-Day No Drinking Challenge. I had found myself using alcohol to self-medicate more times per week than I should - more than likely from all the stress I had been dealing with - and it was starting to have a negative effect in a few areas of my life. I started the challenge on Sunday, July 8th, and wrapped it up on Saturday, August 4th. This wasn't technically 30 days, but it was a solid 4 weeks, which is what I was going for. I had my last drink on a Saturday and my first drink on the 4th Saturday. 
So, how did it work out for me? It worked out great, better than expected, really. My body really appreciated the break: my skin cleared up, my brain was focused, I felt well-rested, I lost a few pounds from not taking in all the extra calories, and I was super-productive. On top of everything else, it was a boost to my mental state and gave me a sense of accomplishment.


Bonus
I have something else to share with you: I am intermittent fasting (IF). A few days before I started the No Drinking Challenge, I decided to give intermittent fasting a try. There are a few ways that I've seen on how to do it, but the method I use is 16:8. How it works is that I only eat during an 8-hour window and I fast the other 16 hours. I'm sleeping for half of those 16 hours though, so it's not that bad. My window to eat starts at 11:30 a.m. and ends at 7:30 p.m. I picked that window because my lunch break at work starts at 11:30 so it made the most sense.
Why did I decide to intermittent fast?
1. I found myself starting to snack, and snack often, again.2. I am not fond of special diets like keto - which I tried and hated.3. I wanted to lose weight while eating what I like without feeling deprived.4. I got tired of feeling like my body was constantly digesting food making me feel bloated all the time.5. I dislike diets in general as diets are temporary. I want a lifestyle change that helps me lose weight and stay that way for the rest of my life - not a fad diet that helps me lose weight really fast and then stop. It's a guaranteed method for regaining weight (at least for most people).

So, how do I like it? Well, I don't like it...I love it!
1. It keeps my eating in check - a good thing with a food addiction.2. It really lets my body fully digest all my food.3. It works similar to keto in that it will burn fat. 4. I'm more mindful of what I'm eating.5. I get most of my moving around during my fasting period which helps me burn calories better. Besides, exercising on a full stomach kinda sucks.6. It's easy and doesn't require anything special.


Conclusion
Each of these three things has served me well this year. They're all ways of me dealing with my addictions, head-on, in a manner that is healthy and doable. They're also ways for me to be accountable for my health and keep moving towards my long-term goal of being in shape and healthy. But most importantly, they're all ways in which I take control of my addictions instead of letting them control me. In this life, we can either continue to keep indulging in all the bad habits that destroy our health, or we can decide to do something about it. I've looked at the results of years, and decades, of bad decisions, and the impact that it has on people's lives, and I decided that I don't want that for myself. 
Four years ago, I made the decision to quit smoking and it was the first step of many that I've taken since then to take charge of my health and change my life. I've lost 100 pounds now since that fateful January day in 2014, and I'm never looking back. I'm in the best shape of my life right now and I feel amazing, both physically and mentally. It will always be an uphill battle, I know, but I will come out victorious in the end. I have to. My life depends on it.


How are your challenges and goals going? Feel free to comment or shoot me an email. I'm always ready to hear your stories, share in your triumphs, and lift you up during your struggles. We can do this together! 

Camping with the Kids

Campsite all set up.
Recently, my husband was away for a week on business, so I took the opportunity to spend some quality time with the kids. Since the weather in July was amazingly comfortable - and since it had been a few years since the last time I had taken one - I thought a camping trip was in order. Now, I've talked about camping plenty of times here in the past as a fun, inexpensive way to spend quality time with the family, and it's true. Getting out in nature, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, is always a welcome respite.
For this simple, overnight camping trip, we decided to stay close to home by heading out to one of our favorite spots: Hitchcock Nature Center. It's only a 20-30 minute drive from our house, depending on the city traffic, but it feels like a whole other world. It's also a cheap place to pitch up a tent, costing $10.00/night. 
Since our trip was only a brief one, we ate supper before we left and merely brought a few snacks and supplies for s'mores. Setting up camp was easy then, simply pitching the tent, making up our sleeping spots, and putting the camp chairs around the fire ring.


Hiking a new trail at Hitchcock during our camping trip.
We arrived around 5 p.m. and it only took about 30 minutes to set up camp, so after we were done, we took a hike through the woods. We've hiked here many times over the past decade but managed to take a trail we had never been on before. While not a long hike by any means, it was a hard trail. It went straight down into the valley and straight up back out. 


The kids play together.
While we took an unfamiliar trail, we ended up at a familiar place: the playground. The kids spent a good hour playing...just like old times. The Teen is too old to really "play" anymore so it was refreshing to see them enjoy this activity together. This is especially true as I get ready to take him off to college soon.



We got back to camp with about an hour to spare before dark, so we got a fire going. Not only are campfires pretty awesome to sit around, they're also how you soften up marshmallows for s'mores. (Note: I am a vegan, but my kids are not, just in case you're wondering.)


The Teen likes his marshmallows burnt.



The perfect campfire.

Ahh. There's nothing like a perfect campfire on a nice night to feel peaceful, relaxed, and a million miles away from the city. We brought a few games and small camp lanterns, so we played games at the picnic table before turning in for the night. Our tent has a mesh top and a protective tent cover that you can use or not, and we elected to leave it open as the weather was nice and we could then see the stars as we laid in our beds. Nothing compares to sleeping under the glow of the stars and listening to the crickets sing you to sleep. 
This was a nice way to spend some quality time with my kids before school starts. Now that The Teen is going out into the world on his own and Nature Girl is almost a teen herself, these days are going to be fewer and farther between. Enjoy your moments while you can. I know I sure am.
We're seasoned campers so we know exactly what we need to bring and what we don't. If you're interested in camping but have never done it before, check out this article on camping for beginners. If you have kids, this article in Parenting magazine has good, basic information for camping first-time with kiddos.
Happy Camping!

In Search of a Camera

For years I wanted a nice camera. Not a "pocket" camera but a real camera that I could take good photographs with. Every year for my birthday and for Christmas, my folks give me Amazon gift cards, so during the 2016 holiday season, I made up my mind to use my yearly gift cards to buy a camera. I did some research and bought myself a nice Nikon Coolpix camera. I was very excited when it arrived at my doorstep and I've spent the last few years taking good pictures with it. 
Then, something happened. No, I didn't drop my camera in a river or off a precipice - which wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility in my world - but rather a mundane event changed my view of my camera. What was this mundane event? I dropped my old phone (a Samsung Galaxy S4 haha) and cracked the screen which caused my screen to go black. This prompted me to purchase a new phone: the Samsung Galaxy S7. 
One of the things I wasn't expecting with my new smartphone was how great the camera would be. After owning the phone for a handful of months now, I've come to the realization that my S7 takes superior photos to my Nikon. While it doesn't have the ability to zoom in for several miles, the quality of the photographs is so much better with my S7, that I've simply quit using my Nikon. This means I only take photos now on my phone.
For the most part, this suits me well as I tend to carry my phone with me everywhere, even while hiking, but there are times when a good quality, regular camera is preferred. I have done some research, however, and I think part of my camera issue is my budget. If I had more than $1000 to spend (HA!) on a camera, I could buy one that takes great quality photos. Unfortunately, my budget is more like $200-300. My task, then, is to find a quality camera for my price range - or at least close enough for me to start saving for the extra.
I will take all the suggestions I can get! Let me know in the comments.

Vacation Snapshot: The Ghosts of Gitchie Manitou Wildlife Area

Walking the three-quarter of a mile trail from the parking area to the old lodge.
When we were on vacation, my Dad took us on a day trip to South Dakota. We spent time at Falls Park and Palisades State Park before heading back home. Since it was on the way, we stopped at Gitchie Manitou Wildlife Area.
Gitchie Manitou sits right in the uppermost, northwest corner of Iowa and butts up against the border of South Dakota. It derives its name comes from the Algonquian, meaning "Great Spirit" or "Great Force of Nature". The area used to be a state preserve but the state recently relinquished responsibility for the park and it is now a wildlife preserve run by (I believe) Lyon County. It's known for its Native American burial grounds and its 1.6 billion-year-old quartzite outcroppings.


A view towards the old lodge from the main trail.
After walking three-quarters of a mile of trail, you come to a foot-worn trail to the right that leads to an old stone structure of some kind. 



A closer look reveals years of graffiti.



A glance to the left of the structure reveals the ancient quartzite outcroppings that are known throughout the area. Graffiti is evident here as well.



Nothing here has been spared from graffiti.



A view into the old, stone structure from what would have been the entryway. Years of graffiti have covered nearly every square inch of it, but I could still tell that it used to be a lodge of some kind as there's a fireplace inside. I could also tell that it was constructed of the quartzite that is so abundant around it. Beyond that, I can only guess what it might have once been. There is no information, that I could find, that tells me anything about what this lodge was used for, nor who might have built it. It's truly a mystery. 



The graffiti is such a stark contrast to the area that surrounds it. While it's vandalism - and my Dad was disgusted by the blatant disregard for its preservation - I kind of liked it. While not high art, it's art nonetheless and looks cheerful and bright - something this place needs.


A view of the lodge from my vantage point atop the quartzite outcroppings.


Death is Near
Violence is the first refuge of the violent. - Aaron Allston

It's obvious this place is a hangout for local kids to come party and has been for decades from information I have been able to find on the internet. While small and unassuming, Gitchie Manitou has a dark past: one that rocked the area for years, ruined one woman's life, and gave the park a haunted reputation. 






On November 17, 1973, nearly forty-five years ago, Sandra Chesky (then 13 years old) went to Gitchie Manitou with her boyfriend, Roger Essem, his friend, Stewart Baade, Stewart's brother Dana, and another friend, Mike Hadrath. They intended to build a bonfire, smoke a couple of joints, play the guitar, and just have a fun evening hanging out. Instead of the idyllic evening they imagined, their night was quickly, and violently, cut short when brothers Allen, James, and David Fryer confronted the teenagers. Only Sandra would make it out alive - after being held hostage and violated for a few days at a farmhouse in the area.


By Ray.lowry - Digital Camera, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...

For a good re-telling of the story, as well as an interview with Sandra, here's an article about the tragedy, written five years ago, in the Sioux City Journal. Even now, forty-five years later, it is a harrowing tale to read. Nature Girl is 12, a year younger than Sandra was at that time, and it's gut-wrenching to imagine her going through something as horrific as this. 
It's no wonder, then, that Gitchie Manitou has a reputation for being haunted. Between those buried in the Native American burial mounds and those murdered here, blood courses its way through the park's veins. Indeed, there's an eerie, almost ominous feel to the park. This is most evident as you stand around the graffiti-marked lodge that is woefully out of place there. While a sunny day, a grayness cut through the light, casting an odd shadow over everything. As I stood on the quartzite outcroppings, looking out over a tree-canopied valley, I could hear water flowing from somewhere below. The sound of it was muffled by the expansive tree cover, giving it an unusual sound that only added to the creepy ambiance. Somewhere off in the distance, a woman playfully screamed. It was muted enough to give me pause and listen before determining it was nothing nefarious, but left me a bit rattled all the same.
I did a quick EVP session in the lodge but didn't hear anything upon playback. As we walked back towards the main trail, I took one last glance back at the old lodge and silently paid my respects to those whose lives came full circle here. 
Rest in Peace, Ghosts of Gitchie Manitou.